A roof replacement is the moment to decide whether an existing skylight should stay, be reflashed, be replaced or be removed—not after the new roof is finished.
Do not treat the skylight as a footnote
A skylight interrupts the roof covering and relies on a coordinated curb or frame, flashing system, underlayment and interior opening. If it is near the end of its service life, leaving it in place during a new roof can create a second roof-opening project later.
Before signing the reroof contract, identify every skylight and ask its approximate age, condition, brand if known and whether replacement flashing kits are available for the selected roofing system.
Reflash can make sense when the unit is sound
If the skylight itself is relatively recent, dry, undamaged and compatible with the new roof, the contractor may recommend keeping the unit and replacing or reinstalling the flashing system. Ask whether the manufacturer has a current flashing kit and whether the reroof scope includes underlayment integration around the opening.
Do not assume reused flashing is equivalent to a new flashing system. The contractor should explain what will actually be removed and replaced.
Replacement may be cheaper during the reroof than later
When the roof is already stripped and staging is in place, replacing an aging skylight can avoid disturbing the new roof a few years later. The homeowner still needs to compare the cost against the skylight’s condition and future plans.
If you are changing from a fixed unit to an opening unit, altering the size or adding electrical features, confirm whether framing, wiring, interior drywall or permit questions change the scope.
Removal is a construction project, not just “delete the skylight”
Removing a skylight means closing the roof opening and usually repairing framing or sheathing, roofing, insulation, air/vapour control and the interior ceiling finish. Ask for the full closure scope rather than assuming the roofer handles every interior trade.
Whichever option you choose, put it in writing before the new roof goes on. Skylight decisions are much harder to price cleanly after the roofing crew has completed the surrounding system.
Coordinate the skylight warranty with the roof warranty
A new roof and an old skylight can leave homeowners with two different warranty stories. Ask whether the roofing contractor warrants the flashing work, whether the skylight manufacturer requires a specific flashing kit, and who handles interior damage if an old skylight unit itself later fails. Those answers can affect whether replacement now is worth the added cost.
If you replace the skylight, keep the model number, flashing-kit information, installer invoice and any roof photos with the roofing records. Future troubleshooting is easier when you can tell whether a leak is associated with the glazing unit, the curb, the flashing system or the surrounding roof.
Questions to carry into the contractor conversation
- What part of the existing roof are you assuming can stay?
- Which conditions can change the price after tear-off?
- Which manufacturer details or code requirements affect this specific roof?
- Who is responsible for related work that is outside the roofing crew’s scope?
- How are unexpected changes documented and approved before extra work proceeds?
Those questions are intentionally broader than “what brand do you install?” They make the written scope easier to compare and reduce the chance that two estimates are pricing different jobs.
What HomeSelect can and cannot do
HomeSelect can help you organize the project, use a broad planning calculator and—where current coverage exists—seek one local contractor match. It does not inspect the roof, issue permits, design structural work, adjust insurance claims or guarantee a contractor’s estimate or workmanship.
Use the guide to prepare for a better conversation, then rely on the professionals responsible for the actual property to confirm the details that require inspection, design or regulatory interpretation.
Sources and verification
Official sources checked September 15, 2026. Codes, municipal requirements, product instructions and site conditions can change what applies to a specific project.
Use this with the BC roof planner
HomeSelect’s calculator is a broad planning tool, not a roofing quote. Use it to establish a range before deciding whether you want one local contractor conversation.